Yellow vs Lemon Yellow

How close are they?

ΔE 14.5, fair: the same colour family, but not a straight swap. Lemon Yellow is a little darker, more muted, cooler than Yellow.

Can I use Lemon Yellow instead of Yellow?

Only where an exact match doesn’t matter, such as a new unit or a highlight. Fair match (ΔE 15). Lemon Yellow is a little darker, more muted, cooler than Yellow.

Can I use Yellow instead of Lemon Yellow?

The same difference applies the other way round: Yellow is a little lighter, more saturated, warmer.

ΔE is the colour difference between our two swatch estimates: under about 6 is close, over about 15 is loose. Real paints also differ in finish, coverage and how they thin, so test before you commit.